$5.2 Million Awarded In Kidney Case

March 2, 1985

LOS ANGELES — A Superior Court jury Friday awarded $5.2 million to a man who sued doctors for removing his healthy left kidney instead of his cancerous right kidney, which had a tumor ``the size of a basketball.``

Harry Jordan`s attorney, however, said a recent state Supreme Court decision will reduce the award to about $1.2 million -- most of that going to lawyers.

Jordan, 64, of suburban Huntington Beach, said after the verdict that his medical bills have exceeded $2 million and he suffered $1.3 million in lost income.

``I think the jurors did the best job they could with what they had,`` he told reporters. ``We will have to live with whatever money we get.``

Jordan`s attorneys argued the negligence and recklessness of doctors, medical groups and the hospital led to the removal of the wrong kidney after he was rushed to Long Beach Community Hospital in November 1982.